Arlene Dee Foster

On November 20, 1923 a beautiful blue eyed baby girl was born to J.R. Nickell and Elva Allen Nickell at St. Francis Hospital in Colorado Springs, CO. Her name was Arlene Dee Nickell. Arlene spent all of her life in Colorado except for one year in 1931 when her family moved to Riverside, California. Our roots run deep in Colorado. Arlene’s grandparents arrived here in 1907 by covered wagon when Arlene’s mother Elva Allen was two years old. They homesteaded near Simla, Colorado on the Eastern Plains. Arlene was raised on her family’s farm south of Matheson, CO. and later in the town of Simla, Colorado. She was the oldest of seven children and the beloved big sister to her six siblings. She graduated from Simla Union High School in 1942.

She married the love of her life Raymond Dale Foster on June 8, 1944 at the First Baptist Church in Simla while he was home on leave from serving in WWII in the United States Navy. They had both grown up in Simla, Colorado and met in high school there. They celebrated 62 ½ years together before Raymond passed away on February 3, 2007. To this loving union five children were born. Marilyn Foster Street (Michael) Colorado Springs, Ronald Foster (Madeline) Ft. Collins, CO. Deanne Foster Culp (Ron) Black Forest, CO. Judy Louise Foster (deceased 1953), Joe Foster (Pam) Simla, Colorado.

Mom and dad returned to Colorado Springs after the war was over to raise their family. She was the proud grandma of nine surviving grandchildren. Dean Street, Carrie Street Reinmuth, Jerry Foster, Lucas Foster, Matthew Foster, Chad Culp, Chelsea Culp Batis, Nick Foster and Ryan Sanderson. She was pre-deceased by her loving grandchildren Michael Street 1968 and Danielle Dee Foster Swanepoel Wolf in 2013. She is also survived by 21 great grandchildren who love her dearly and have spent most of their lives going to visit her at the nursing home. Ellie and Bo Street, Mitchel, Carley and Jadrie Foster, Cole and Cade Foster, Bria and Easton Foster, Dax, Taylor and Sydney Culp, Max, Brooklyn and Noah Batis, Lehanie Jo Swanepoel, and Logan and Rhylie Foster. She is also survived by one great great grandchild and another great great grandchild is on the way.

She loved all of her family dearly. Kind of a fun fact- All of Arlene’s grandkids and great grandkids lovingly referred to her by her nickname- Grandma Toto, followed by Grandma Rudy and lastly by Grandma Rudy 2- which were her dog’s names . Mom was the best Mom, Grandma and Great Grandma you could ever be blessed to have. She was always there for all of us and she stayed home to care for all her children until we were in Jr. High and High School. Arlene worked for several years at the ENT Federal Credit Union as a teller. Mom was all about family first and foremost. Mom loved all the babies, baking cookies, sewing, quilting, cross stitching, and beautiful flowers-especially pink fushias and pansies. Mom and dad spend many of their retirement years traveling in their motor home across the USA, Canada and Mexico. They liked to cruise as well and dad took her through the Panama Canal on a cruise ship for their 50th wedding anniversary- just like he promised. Dad had been stationed in Panama during the war. They loved to take their kids and grandkids with them whenever they could. We spent many years traveling to Oregon in the summers where our grandparents lived when we were kids.

Mom was stricken with the terrible disease of Alzheimer’s in her early 80’s. Our dad lovingly cared for her as long as he possibly could. In October 2005 mom moved to The Simla Good Samaritan Home in Simla, Colorado where she was lovingly cared for for almost 12 years.

The last 10 years of her life she has had a constant companion-her Baby Doll that she believed was real. Her baby doll brought her so much comfort and joy and gave her someone to love 24 hours a day. She would pat the baby, rock her, and sing to her long after her disease took her words. For us kids we could look at the way she cared for her baby and get a glimpse of how it was like for us when we were babies. It was precious. Arlene and Raymond Foster were founding members of Highland Park Baptist Church in Colorado Springs for over 50 years. Arlene was a woman who put her Lord and Savior and her family first in her life.

Arlene passed into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior on Saturday July 29, 2017 with all four of her children, and other loving family members at her side. She will be forever loved and missed by her family and those who loved her. Even though Alzheimer’s took away your speech and memory, it can not and will not steal our memories of you. I remember when you said “I can’t remember who you are- but I know you’re mine and I love you!” Rest in Peace Mom and dance and sing with the angels.

Arlene was pre-deceased by her parents and by one brother Bobby Nickell in 1987. She is survived by her brother Donald (Janet) Nickell of Simla, CO. Bonnie Nickell Hamacher of Simla, CO. Wilma Nickell Helton of Pueblo West, Joan Nickell Bratosh of Tuscon, Arizona and Janet (Terry) Nickell Wells. She is also a very special aunt to many nieces and nephews who love her dearly. Thank you to all our family and friends for the loving support you have shown our family. It is greatly appreciated.

Visitation will be held at Swan-Law Funeral Directors, 501 N. Cascade Ave, Colorado Springs, CO. on Tuesday August 8, 2017 from 10-12pm. Services will follow there at noon. Following the conclusion of the services, Mom will be taken to Simla, CO. for burial. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to The Simla Good Samaritan Center, 320 Pueblo Avenue, Simla, CO. 80835.